Ui and devices for ranking user generated content

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods are provided for generating content. The systems and methods include operations for: storing, by one or more processors, a plurality of content items in association with a content item generation template, each of the plurality of content items having been previously generated by a respective user of a plurality of users of a messaging application in accordance with instructions associated with the content item generation template; ranking the plurality of content items associated with the content item generation template; receiving input that selects an identifier of the content item generation template; and displaying the ranked plurality of content items to a given user of the messaging application in response to receiving the input.

CLAIM FOR PRIORITY

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication Nos. 62/775,822, filed Dec. 5, 2018; and 62/775,829, filedDec. 5, 2018, which are herein incorporated by reference in theirentireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to the technical field ofsocial networks. In particular, the present embodiments are generallydirected to incenting a user of a social network to provide content tothe social network.

BACKGROUND

As the popularity of social networking grows, social networks areexpanding their capabilities. To improve ease of use, social networksare integrating more and more functions such that a user may accomplishmany or even most of their computer-based tasks within the socialnetwork itself. One vision of social networks is that they eventuallybecome a virtual operating system, from which a user seldom finds a needto remove themselves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numeralsmay describe similar components in different views. To easily identifythe discussion of any particular element or act, the most significantdigit or digits in a reference number refer to the figure number inwhich that element is first introduced. Some embodiments are illustratedby way of example, and not limitation, in the figures of theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example messaging system forexchanging data (e.g., messages and associated content) over a network,according to example embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating data which may be stored inthe database of a messaging server system, according to exampleembodiments.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a messagegenerated by a messaging client application for communication, accordingto example embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example content item generationtemplate system, according to example embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating example operations of the contentitem generation template system, according to example embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating example operations of the contentitem generation template system, according to example embodiments.

FIGS. 7A-C are illustrative inputs and outputs of the content itemgeneration template system, according to example embodiments.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a representative softwarearchitecture, which may be used in conjunction with various hardwarearchitectures herein described, according to example embodiments.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating components of a machine able toread instructions from a machine-readable medium (e.g., amachine-readable storage medium) and perform any one or more of themethodologies discussed herein, according to example embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The description that follows includes systems, methods, techniques,instruction sequences, and computing machine program products thatembody illustrative embodiments of the disclosure. In the followingdescription, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific detailsare set forth in order to provide an understanding of variousembodiments. It will be evident, however, to those skilled in the art,that embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. Ingeneral, well-known instruction instances, protocols, structures, andtechniques are not necessarily shown in detail.

Often, users consume media content, and specifically videos, on theirmobile device. Users are always seeking new ways to discover content.Sometimes users generate content using predefined graphics or audiocontent. In certain cases, users may be interested in finding suchcontent that was generated using the predefined graphics or audiocontent. In order to do so, the users have to manually search throughand view various content submitted by other users and manually determinewhether such content includes the predefined graphics or audio content.This task is extremely burdensome and time consuming, which ends upfrustrating users and wasting device resources.

The disclosed embodiments improve the efficiency of using the electronicdevice by providing a system that automatically organizes content basedon themes used to generate the content. Specifically, the disclosedsystem allows a user to browse through content on the basis of whethersuch content was generated using a predefined content item generationtemplate. For example, a content item generation template that isassociated with instructions for generating a content item is identifiedand a messaging application displays an identifier of the content itemgeneration template. The messaging application receives input thatselects the identifier of the content item generation template andretrieves a plurality of content items associated with the content itemgeneration template. Each of the plurality of content items has beenpreviously generated by a respective user of a plurality of users of themessaging application in accordance with the instructions associatedwith the content item generation template. The messaging applicationdisplays the retrieved plurality of content items associated with thecontent item generation template.

According to example embodiments, there is provided a challengemechanism (or mechanic) for a messaging system, according to which usersof the messaging system are enabled to create and submit content (e.g.,user generated content (UGC) such as photographs or video), to themessaging system having a specific annotation or supplementation (e.g.,an image overlay or full site) corresponding to a particular challengetheme (e.g., a content item generation template). These user generatedcontent collections may relate to any one of a number of differentevents or themes, such as music, social events, holidays, comedy, and soforth. While example embodiments discussed herein are discussed withrespect to a musical theme, it will be appreciated that challenges(content item generation templates) may be applied with respect to anumber of different themes. The challenge mechanic seeks to drive userengagement with the messaging system, and also to expand creativeexpression, for example by facilitating the convenient and automatedgeneration of content (e.g., UGC). In some embodiments, the messagingsystem allows users to view UGC that was generated for a particulartheme or according to instructions of a particular content itemgeneration template.

In this way, the disclosed embodiments improve the efficiency of usingthe electronic device by reducing complexity experienced by a user infinding certain content that is of interest to the user, and by reducingthe number of screens and interfaces a user has to navigate through tofind such content. This reduces the device resources (e.g., processorcycles, memory, and power usage) needed to accomplish a task with thedevice.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example messaging system 100 forexchanging data (e.g., messages and associated content) over a network106. The messaging system 100 includes multiple client devices 102, eachof which hosts a number of applications, including a messaging clientapplication 104 and a third-party application 105. Each messaging clientapplication 104 is communicatively coupled to other instances of themessaging client application 104, the third-party application 105, and amessaging server system 108 via a network 106 (e.g., the Internet).

Accordingly, each messaging client application 104 and third-partyapplication 105 is able to communicate and exchange data with anothermessaging client application 104 and third-party application(s) 105 andwith the messaging server system 108 via the network 106. The dataexchanged between messaging client applications 104, third-partyapplications 105, and the messaging server system 108 includes functions(e.g., commands to invoke functions) and payload data (e.g., text,audio, video, or other multimedia data). Any disclosed communicationsbetween the messaging client application 104 and the third-partyapplication(s) 105 can be transmitted directly from the messaging clientapplication 104 to the third-party application(s) 105 and/or indirectly(e.g., via one or more servers) from the messaging client application104 to the third-party application(s) 105.

The third-party application(s) 105 and the messaging client application104 are applications that include a set of functions that allow theclient device 102 to access a content item generation template system124. The third-party application 105 is an application that is separateand distinct from the messaging client application 104. The third-partyapplication(s) 105 are downloaded and installed by the client device 102separately from the messaging client application 104. In someimplementations, the third-party application(s) 105 are downloaded andinstalled by the client device 102 before or after the messaging clientapplication 104 is downloaded and installed. The third-party application105 is an application that is provided by an entity or organization thatis different from the entity or organization that provides the messagingclient application 104. The third-party application 105 is anapplication that can be accessed by a client device 102 using separatelogin credentials than the messaging client application 104. Namely, thethird-party application 105 can maintain a first user account and themessaging client application 104 can maintain a second user account. Forexample, the third-party application 105 can be a social networkingapplication, a dating application, a ride or car sharing application, ashopping application, a trading application, a gaming application, or animaging application.

In some embodiments, the messaging client application 104 provides auser with a graphical user interface that allows the user to search forcontent that corresponds to a particular content item generationtemplate and/or submit content generated using instructions of thecontent item generation template. For example, the messaging clientapplication 104 may present a graphical user interface with anidentifier of a content item generation template (also referred to as achallenge or lens challenge). The content item generation template maybe created by an artist or producer and may have one or more augmentedreality content (e.g., music, videos, graphical element(s), text, andthe like) associated with it. The content item generation templateincludes a set of instructions that are presented to a user forgenerating content according to a theme of the content item generationtemplate.

For example, when the content item generation template is accessed, thecontent item generation template starts playing a song and allows theuser to capture a video or record audio together with or in place of aportion of the song. The user can use a slice tool provided by themessaging client application 104 to select a portion of the song that isincluded in the content item generation template over which the user'svoice or audio is recorded. Specifically, the content item generationtemplate may include a three minute song, and the user can select asegment between the time points 1:30 (min:sec) and 1:45 (min:sec) of thesong to be replaced by the user's personal audio recording.

As another example, the content item generation template may includeaugmented reality content that represents a particular scene.Specifically, the content item generation template may include one ormore graphical elements that look like the Academy Awards (e.g., astage, a podium, a screen, and audience). The content item generationtemplate may include instructions for the user to capture a video of theuser making a speech at the Academy Awards. The video including theuser's face is overlaid or combined with the graphical elements andspecifically behind the podium. In this way, the content item generatedby the user looks like the user is making a speech at the AcademyAwards.

As another example, the content item generation template may include amusical composition that is combined with one or more graphicalelements. The graphical elements are time stamped such that a differentone of the graphical elements is presented on the screen at differenttime points in the musical composition. The content item generationtemplate may instruct the user to capture video of the user while themusical composition is played and while the graphical elements arepresented. For example, the user can sing lyrics corresponding to themusical composition, and graphical elements may be overlaid on top ofthe user singing the lyrics in correspondence with different portions ofthe musical composition.

Once the user is satisfied with the content item the user generatesaccording to the content item generation template, the messaging clientapplication 104 allows the user to submit the generated content to oneor more designated friends or recipients and/or to be shared as part ofall the content items associated with the content item generationtemplate. For example, the messaging client application 104 provides afirst option for the user to share the generated content item with oneor more friends and provides a second option for the user to enableaccess to the generated user generated content item by any user of themessaging client application 104 who selects an identifier of thecontent item generation template. Namely, selection of the second optionadds the content item generated by the user to the collection of UGCthat is associated with the given content item generation template.

In some embodiments, the instructions of the content item generationtemplate presented to the user for generating a content item are onlyincluded and presented to the user while the content item is beinggenerated. After the content item is generated and shared with otherusers, the instructions are removed or not displayed with the contentitem. For example, the content item generation template may overlayinstructions over a video feed being captured by the user. Theinstructions may instruct the user to perform some action (e.g., singlyrics, position a camera a certain way, or make a dance move). Theinstructions, in some cases, may include text of lyrics of a song thatis associated with the content item generation template. After the usercompletes capturing the video according to the displayed instructions,the video is stored without the instructions. Namely, another user whoviews or accesses the video that was created by the user while theinstructions were presented may see the video without seeing theinstructions. For example, the content item generation template mayoverlay lyrics of a song for a user to sing while capturing audio orvideo of the user. After the audio or video is captured, the lyrics areremoved from the video and/or are not stored as part of the video. Inthis way, another user does not see the lyrics being presented whileviewing the video or audio of the user singing the lyrics of the song.

In some embodiments, the messaging client application 104 receives auser input selecting an identifier of a given content item generationtemplate. Specifically, the messaging client application 104 presents alist of different content item generation templates. The list may bevertically oriented or horizontally oriented. The user can browse thelist by swiping left/right (for horizontally oriented lists) or up/down(for vertically oriented lists). Once the user finds a content itemgeneration template that is of interest, the user can tap on theidentifier of the content item generation template. In response, themessaging client application 104 may present a set of UGC that wasgenerated according to the instructions of the selected content itemgeneration template.

In some embodiments, the set of UGC that is presented corresponding tothe selected content item generation template may be ranked. In someimplementations, the set of UGC is ranked based on attributes of theuser viewing the set of UGC and a set of attributes of the users whocreated the UGC. For example, the UGC may be ranked and sorted based ona geographical region of the user who is viewing the UGC and thegeographical region of the users who created the UGC. Specifically, ifthe user is in California, the messaging client application 104 maypresent a set of UGC that was generated according to the instructions ofthe content item generation template by users in California. In someimplementations, the UGC is ranked based on a relationship between theuser who submitted the UGC and the user who is viewing the UGC. Forexample, a UGC that is generated by the user's friend may be positionedhigher or earlier in the set of UGC than another UGC that was generatedby a user who is not a friend. In some implementations, the set of UGCis ranked based on a number of content items that are associated withthe content item generation template.

In some embodiments, the set of UGC is ranked based on a combination ofmoderator input and engagement signals. For example, the set of UGC isranked based on whether a moderator assigned a high or low rank to agiven one of the UGC items and at least one of a number of times thegiven content item has been viewed by users of the messaging clientapplication 104, length of time the users spend viewing the givencontent item, a geographical location of the users who view the givencontent item, or how recently the given content item was received.

The messaging server system 108 provides server-side functionality viathe network 106 to a particular messaging client application 104. Whilecertain functions of the messaging system 100 are described herein asbeing performed by either a messaging client application 104 or by themessaging server system 108, it will be appreciated that the location ofcertain functionality either within the messaging client application 104or the messaging server system 108 is a design choice. For example, itmay be technically preferable to initially deploy certain technology andfunctionality within the messaging server system 108, but to latermigrate this technology and functionality to the messaging clientapplication 104 where a client device 102 has a sufficient processingcapacity.

The messaging server system 108 supports various services and operationsthat are provided to the messaging client application 104. Suchoperations include transmitting data to, receiving data from, andprocessing data generated by the messaging client application 104. Thisdata may include message content, client device information, geolocationinformation, media annotation and overlays, virtual objects, messagecontent persistence conditions, social network information, and liveevent information, as examples. Data exchanges within the messagingsystem 100 are invoked and controlled through functions available viauser interfaces (UIs) of the messaging client application 104.

Turning now specifically to the messaging server system 108, an APIserver 110 is coupled to, and provides a programmatic interface to, anapplication server 112. The application server 112 is communicativelycoupled to a database server 118, which facilitates access to a database120 in which is stored data associated with messages processed by theapplication server 112.

Dealing specifically with the API server 110, this server 110 receivesand transmits message data (e.g., commands and message payloads) betweenthe client device 102 and the application server 112. Specifically, theAPI server 110 provides a set of interfaces (e.g., routines andprotocols) that can be called or queried by the messaging clientapplication 104 and the third-party application 105 in order to invokefunctionality of the application server 112. The API server 110 exposesvarious functions supported by the application server 112, includingaccount registration; login functionality; the sending of messages, viathe application server 112, from a particular messaging clientapplication 104 to another messaging client application 104 orthird-party application 105; the sending of media files (e.g., images orvideo) from a messaging client application 104 to the messaging serverapplication 114, and for possible access by another messaging clientapplication 104 or third-party application 105; the setting of acollection of media data (e.g., story); the retrieval of suchcollections; the retrieval of a list of friends of a user of a clientdevice 102; the retrieval of messages and content; the adding anddeleting of friends to a social graph; the location of friends within asocial graph; access to user conversation data; access to avatarinformation stored on messaging server system 108; and opening anapplication event (e.g., relating to the messaging client application104).

The application server 112 hosts a number of applications andsubsystems, including a messaging server application 114, an imageprocessing system 116, a social network system 122, and the content itemgeneration template system 124. The messaging server application 114implements a number of message processing technologies and functions,particularly related to the aggregation and other processing of content(e.g., textual and multimedia content) included in messages receivedfrom multiple instances of the messaging client application 104. As willbe described in further detail, the text and media content from multiplesources may be aggregated into collections of content (e.g., calledstories or galleries). These collections are then made available, by themessaging server application 114, to the messaging client application104. Other processor- and memory-intensive processing of data may alsobe performed server-side by the messaging server application 114, inview of the hardware requirements for such processing.

The application server 112 also includes an image processing system 116that is dedicated to performing various image processing operations,typically with respect to images or video received within the payload ofa message at the messaging server application 114. A portion of theimage processing system 116 may also be implemented by the content itemgeneration template system 124.

The social network system 122 supports various social networkingfunctions and services and makes these functions and services availableto the messaging server application 114. To this end, the social networksystem 122 maintains and accesses an entity graph within the database120. Examples of functions and services supported by the social networksystem 122 include the identification of other users of the messagingsystem 100 with which a particular user has relationships or is“following” and also the identification of other entities and interestsof a particular user. Such other users may be referred to as the user'sfriends. Social network system 122 may access location informationassociated with each of the user's friends to determine where they liveor are currently located geographically. Social network system 122 maymaintain a location profile for each of the user's friends indicatingthe geographical location where the user's friends live.

The content item generation template system 124 allows users to view,browse, search for, and submit content items associated with one or morecontent item generation templates. The content item generation templatesystem 124 allows an artist or producer to create and submit a contentitem generation template. For example, the artist or producer mayprovide an identifier including a graphical representation (e.g., coverart) of the content item generation template. The artist or producer mayalso input various parameters of the content item generation templateincluding one or more of a period of time during which content will becollected from users, one or more conditions for ending collection ofcontent, a name of the user generated content collection, an image to bedisplayed when a user views the user generated content collection, amusic or video asset to present as part of generating the content item,and a trigger to modify one or more graphics presented during generationof the content item according to designated time points.

After receiving the content item generation template from the artist orproducer, the content item generation template system 124 adds thereceived identifier to a list of content item generation templatespresented to a user of the messaging client application 104. The contentitem generation template system 124 may allow users to join or submitcontent to the content item generation template and/or view contentpreviously submitted for the content item generation template. Thecontent item generation template system 124 automatically ranks thecontent items submitted for a given content item generation templateaccording to one or more criteria.

The application server 112 is communicatively coupled to a databaseserver 118, which facilitates access to a database 120 in which isstored data associated with messages processed by the messaging serverapplication 114. Database 120 may be a third-party database. Forexample, the application server 112 may be associated with a firstentity, and the database 120 or a portion of the database 120 may beassociated with and hosted by a second, different entity. In someimplementations, database 120 stores user data that the first entitycollects about various each of the users of a service provided by thefirst entity. For example, the user data includes user names, passwords,addresses, friends, activity information, preferences, videos or contentconsumed by the user, and so forth.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram 200 illustrating data, which may be storedin the database 120 of the messaging server system 108, according tocertain example embodiments. While the content of the database 120 isshown to comprise a number of tables, it will be appreciated that thedata could be stored in other types of data structures (e.g., as anobject-oriented database).

The database 120 includes message data stored within a message table214. An entity table 202 stores entity data, including an entity graph204. Entities for which records are maintained within the entity table202 may include individuals, corporate entities, organizations, objects,places, events, and so forth. Regardless of type, any entity regardingwhich the messaging server system 108 stores data may be a recognizedentity. Each entity is provided with a unique identifier, as well as anentity type identifier (not shown).

The entity graph 204 stores information regarding relationships andassociations between entities. Such relationships may be social,professional (e.g., work at a common corporation or organization),interest-based, or activity-based, merely for example.

Message table 214 may store a collection of conversations between a userand one or more friends or entities. Message table 214 may includevarious attributes of each conversation, such as the list ofparticipants, the size of the conversation (e.g., number of users and/ornumber of messages), the chat color of the conversation, a uniqueidentifier for the conversation, and any other conversation relatedfeature(s).

The database 120 also stores annotation data, in the example form offilters, in an annotation table 212. Database 120 also stores annotatedcontent received in the annotation table 212. Filters for which data isstored within the annotation table 212 are associated with and appliedto videos (for which data is stored in a video table 210) and/or images(for which data is stored in an image table 208). Filters, in oneexample, are overlays that are displayed as overlaid on an image orvideo during presentation to a recipient user. Filters may be of varioustypes, including user-selected filters from a gallery of filterspresented to a sending user by the messaging client application 104 whenthe sending user is composing a message. Other types of filters includegeolocation filters (also known as geo-filters), which may be presentedto a sending user based on geographic location. For example, geolocationfilters specific to a neighborhood or special location may be presentedwithin a UI by the messaging client application 104, based ongeolocation information determined by a Global Positioning System (UPS)unit of the client device 102. Another type of filter is a data filter,which may be selectively presented to a sending user by the messagingclient application 104, based on other inputs or information gathered bythe client device 102 during the message creation process. Examples ofdata filters include current temperature at a specific location, acurrent speed at which a sending user is traveling, battery life for aclient device 102, or the current time.

Other annotation data that may be stored within the image table 208 isso-called “lens” data. A “lens” may be a real-time special effect andsound that may be added to an image or a video.

As mentioned above, the video table 210 stores video data which, in oneembodiment, is associated with messages for which records are maintainedwithin the message table 214. Similarly, the image table 208 storesimage data associated with messages for which message data is stored inthe entity table 202. The entity table 202 may associate variousannotations from the annotation table 212 with various images and videosstored in the image table 208 and the video table 210.

Content item generation template(s) 207 stores one or more content itemgeneration templates. Each of the content item generation template(s)207 is associated with a particular theme. Namely, each of the contentitem generation template(s) 207 includes a different set of instructionsand/or augmented reality content that is presented to assist users togenerate content corresponding to the theme of the content itemgeneration template 207. As an example, a music theme based content itemgeneration template 207 may present a musical composition to the userand/or lyrics corresponding to the musical composition. The music themebased content item generation template 207 may instruct the user to singone or more of the presented lyrics and automatically record video ofthe user singing the lyrics. In some cases, the music theme basedcontent item generation template 207 may present audio of the musicalcomposition and the singer and presents a slicer tool that allows theuser to designate one or more portions for which to replace the singer'svoice with the user's voice.

A story table 206 stores data regarding collections of messages andassociated image, video, or audio data, which are compiled into acollection (e.g., a story or a gallery). The creation of a particularcollection may be initiated by a particular user (e.g., each user forwhich a record is maintained in the entity table 202). A user may createa “personal story” in the form of a collection of content that has beencreated and sent/broadcast by that user. To this end, the UI of themessaging client application 104 may include an icon that isuser-selectable to enable a sending user to add specific content to hisor her personal story.

A collection may also constitute a “live story,” which is a collectionof content from multiple users that is created manually, automatically,or using a combination of manual and automatic techniques. For example,a “live story” may constitute a curated stream of user-submitted contentfrom various locations and events. Users whose client devices 102 havelocation services enabled and are at a common location event at aparticular time may, for example, be presented with an option, via a UIof the messaging client application 104, to contribute content to aparticular live story. The live story may be identified to the user bythe messaging client application 104 based on his or her location. Theend result is a “live story” told from a community perspective.

A further type of content collection is known as a “location story,”which enables a user whose client device 102 is located within aspecific geographic location (e.g., on a college or university campus)to contribute to a particular collection. In some embodiments, acontribution to a location story may require a second degree ofauthentication to verify that the end user belongs to a specificorganization or other entity (e.g., is a student on the universitycampus).

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a message 300,according to some embodiments, generated by a messaging clientapplication 104 for communication to a further messaging clientapplication 104 or the messaging server application 114. The content ofa particular message 300 is used to populate the message table 214stored within the database 120, accessible by the messaging serverapplication 114. Similarly, the content of a message 300 is stored inmemory as “in-transit” or “in-flight” data of the client device 102 orthe application server 112. The message 300 is shown to include thefollowing components:

-   -   A message identifier 302: a unique identifier that identifies        the message 300.    -   A message text payload 304: text, to be generated by a user via        a UI of the client device 102 and that is included in the        message 300.    -   A message image payload 306: image data, captured by a camera        component of a client device 102 or retrieved from memory of a        client device 102, and that is included in the message 300.    -   A message video payload 308: video data, captured by a camera        component or retrieved from a memory component of the client        device 102 and that is included in the message 300.    -   A message audio payload 310: audio data, captured by a        microphone or retrieved from the memory component of the client        device 102, and that is included in the message 300.    -   Message annotations 312: annotation data (e.g., filters,        stickers, or other enhancements) that represents annotations to        be applied to message image payload 306, message video payload        308, or message audio payload 310 of the message 300.    -   A message duration parameter 314: parameter value indicating, in        seconds, the amount of time for which content of the message        (e.g., the message image payload 306, message video payload 308,        message audio payload 310) is to be presented or made accessible        to a user via the messaging client application 104.    -   A message geolocation parameter 316: geolocation data (e.g.,        latitudinal and longitudinal coordinates) associated with the        content payload of the message. Multiple message geolocation        parameter 316 values may be included in the payload, with each        of these parameter values being associated with respect to        content items included in the content (e.g., a specific image        within the message image payload 306, or a specific video in the        message video payload 308).    -   A message story identifier 318: identifier value identifying one        or more content collections (e.g., “stories”) with which a        particular content item in the message image payload 306 of the        message 300 is associated. For example, multiple images within        the message image payload 306 may each be associated with        multiple content collections using identifier values.    -   A message tag 320: each message 300 may be tagged with multiple        tags, each of which is indicative of the subject matter of        content included in the message payload. For example, where a        particular image included in the message image payload 306        depicts an animal (e.g., a lion), a tag value may be included        within the message tag 320 that is indicative of the relevant        animal. Tag values may be generated manually, based on user        input, or may be automatically generated using, for example,        image recognition.    -   A message sender identifier 322: an identifier (e.g., a        messaging system identifier, email address, or device        identifier) indicative of a user of the client device 102 on        which the message 300 was generated and from which the message        300 was sent.    -   A message receiver identifier 324: an identifier (e.g., a        messaging system identifier, email address, or device        identifier) indicative of user(s) of the client device 102 to        which the message 300 is addressed. In the case of a        conversation between multiple users, the identifier may indicate        each user involved in the conversation.

The contents (e.g., values) of the various components of message 300 maybe pointers to locations in tables within which content data values arestored. For example, an image value in the message image payload 306 maybe a pointer to (or address of) a location within an image table 208.Similarly, values within the message video payload 308 may point to datastored within a video table 210, values stored within the messageannotations 312 may point to data stored in an annotation table 212,values stored within the message story identifier 318 may point to datastored in a story table 206, and values stored within the message senderidentifier 322 and the message receiver identifier 324 may point to userrecords stored within an entity table 202.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example content item generationtemplate system 124, according to example embodiments. Content itemgeneration template system 124 includes a content item templategeneration module 412, a content item template generation identificationmodule 414, a content item generation module 416, and a content itemranking module 418.

Content item template generation module 412 allows an artist or producerto create and/or submit a content item generation template. The artistor producer logs into the content item generation template system 124 toestablish a first authentication session using authenticationcredentials of the artist or producer. In some implementations, thefirst authentication session includes administrative privileges to thecontent item generation template submitted by the artist or producerassociated with the authentication credentials. The content itemtemplate generation module 412 displays a configuration user interfacein the first authentication session that allows the artist or producerto provide input parameters for defining the instructions associatedwith the content item generation template submitted by the artist orproducer.

For example, the content item template generation module 412 presents agraphical user interface that allows the artist or producer to upload agraphical representation of the content item generation template and oneor more of a period of time during which content will be collected fromusers, one or more conditions for ending collection of content, a nameof the user generated content collection, an image to be displayed whena user views the user generated content collection, a music or videoasset to present as part of generating the content item, and a triggerto modify one or more graphics presented during generation of thecontent item according to designated time points. Specifically, theartist or producer may upload a song for the content item generationtemplate and lyrics of the song. As another example, the artist orproducer may upload a song with instructions for the user to perform oneor more actions during one or more portions of the song while the songis played back on a user device.

In some cases, the artist or producer may only allow content to begenerated and submitted to the collection associated with the contentitem generation template during a period of time (e.g., between a starttime and an end time). When the identifier of the content itemgeneration template is presented before or after the period of time,selection of the identifier may inform the user about the details of theinstructions associated with the template but may not allow the user toactivate and generate content using the template. When the identifier ofthe content item generation template is presented to a user during theperiod of time, the user can select an option to join or submit contentto be associated with the template. In response to selection of theoption, the content item generation template is activated and launchedtogether with a camera feed of the user device. The user can view theinstructions of the template and create content using the camera feed tobe shared with other users. In some embodiments, when the identifier ofthe content item generation template is presented to a user during theperiod of time, the user can select the identifier to view contentsubmitted by other users using the template.

In some cases, the artist or producer may only allow content to begenerated and submitted to the collection when conditions are satisfied.For example, the conditions may specify a maximum number of contentitems to be created. Once the maximum number is reached, selection ofthe identifier may inform the user about the details of the instructionsassociated with the template but may not allow the user to activate andgenerate content using the template. Before the maximum is reached, theuser can select an option to join or submit content to be associatedwith the template.

After the artist or producer completes creating and submitting thecontent item generation template, the content item template generationmodule 412 stores the content item generation template as part of thecontent item generation template(s) 207.

Content item template generation identification module 414 presents tousers of the messaging client application 104 content item generationtemplates stored in the content item generation template(s) 207. In someembodiments, the content item template generation identification module414 sorts the templates that are presented to a user in a list based onpopularity, age of the template, size, number of content items submittedto the given template, or other suitable criteria. For example, thecontent item template generation identification module 414 may determinethat a first content item generation template is associated with 50content items that were previously generated by users using the firstcontent item generation template. The content item template generationidentification module 414 may determine that a second content itemgeneration template is associated with 80 content items that werepreviously generated by users using the first content item generationtemplate. In such cases, the content item template generationidentification module 414 may position the second content itemgeneration template earlier in the list than the first content itemgeneration template.

In some cases, the content item template generation identificationmodule 414 may rank the templates using weighted attributes. Forexample, a popularity attribute may be associated with a higher weightthan a number of content items attribute. In such cases, the firstcontent item generation template, which may be more popular than thesecond content item generation template, may be ranked higher andpositioned earlier in the list than the second content item generationtemplate even though the second content item generation template isassociated with a greater number of content items than the first contentitem generation template.

The content item template generation identification module 414 presentsthe list of content item generation templates to a user of the messagingclient application 104. The list of content item generation templatesmay be presented in a dedicated portion of the display while othercontent items organized by other criteria are presented in otherportions of the display. Each content item generation template isrepresented in the list by an identifier that indicates the theme of thetemplate, the artist or producer of the template, and that includesoptions for submitting content to the template. For example, a givencontent item generation template may include an option to join thetemplate when an insufficient number of content items (e.g., contentitems less than a threshold) (or no content items) have previously beencreated and submitted by other users using the content item generationtemplate. The join option may be selected by the user to activate thecontent item generation template and a camera feed of the user device tocreate content using the template. In some embodiments, any content itemgeneration template that is included in the list may be removed at anytime if a popularity of the content item generation template falls belowa threshold or if the content item generation template reaches a certainage.

In other cases, when a threshold number of content items have beenpreviously created and submitted by other users using the content itemgeneration template, the identifier may include a representation of thenumber of content items that are associated with the template. Selectionof the number may present to the user a list of the previously generatedcontent that was generated using the template by other users. While theuser is browsing or viewing the list, the user can tap a camera icon toautomatically launch and activate the template to generate content usingthe content item generation template.

In response to receiving a user selection of an identifier of a contentitem generation template, the content item template generationidentification module 414 retrieves the instructions of the templatefrom content item generation template(s) 207. The instructions mayinclude any augmented reality content associated with the template. Thecontent item template generation identification module 414 provides theinstructions and the identified template to the content item generationmodule 416. Content item generation module 416 launches and activatesthe template and activates a camera feed of the user device to allow theuser to generate a content item corresponding to the selected contentitem generation template.

In some embodiments, the augmented reality content associated with thetemplate and instructions are automatically presented and launched oncethe content item generation module 416 activates the template and thecamera feed. For example, the content item generation module 416 mayautomatically start presenting a video feed being captured by the frontor rear-facing camera of the user device. The instructions of thetemplate may indicate whether the front or rear-facing camera of theuser device should be activated. The content item generation module 416may start playing back a music composition or track that is associatedwith the template and may present lyrics according to the time stamps ofthe lyrics and the music track. The content item generation module 416may also automatically begin storing the video feed being captured. Oncethe music composition ends, the content item generation module 416 maystop storing the video feed and present options for the user to modifythe captured video and/or share the captured video with designedrecipients and/or to associate the video with the selected content itemgeneration template.

In some embodiments, the content item generation module 416 may startpresenting a video feed from the front or rear-facing camera of the userdevice and may present an identifier of the activated template. Thecontent item generation module 416 may await user confirmation beforestarting to present the instructions and/or augmented reality contentassociated with the content item generation template. For example, afterthe user selects a start option on the screen, then the content itemgeneration module 416 may begin playing back a music composition ortrack that is associated with the template and may present lyricsaccording to the time stamps of the lyrics and the music track. Thecontent item generation module 416 may also begin storing the video feedbeing captured. Once the music composition ends, the content itemgeneration module 416 may stop storing the video feed and presentoptions for the user to modify the captured video and/or share thecaptured video with designed recipients and/or to associate the videowith the selected content item generation template.

In some embodiments, according to the template instructions, the contentitem generation module 416 may present one or more graphical elements atdifferent time points within a given interval of time. For example, thecontent item generation module 416 may present a first graphical elementat a first time point and a second graphical element at a second timepoint. The content item generation module 416 may capture the video feedbeing received from the front or rear-facing camera and combine thecaptured feed with the presented graphical elements. The content itemgeneration module 416 may display instructions for the user to performone or more actions before, during, or after the graphical elements arepresented. The actions may be captured by the camera feed and, at theend of the interval of time, the content item generation module 416 maypresent options for the user to share the captured video. In someembodiments, the instructions are only included and displayed to theuser while capturing the video and are not included in the video that iscaptured and shared with other users. Namely, the user may see theinstructions to perform a sequence of actions being displayed on thescreen while the video is being captured but after the video is capturedand stored, the video of the user performing the actions is shared withother users without displaying the instructions to the other users.

In some embodiments, the content item ranking module 418 receives avideo that is generated using a given content item generation template.The content item ranking module 418 presents the video to a moderator.The moderator provides input that confirms that the video matches atheme of the template and depicts content corresponding to theinstructions of the template. The moderator then assigns a manual rank(e.g., high or low rank) to the video and adds the video to a collectionof content items associated with the given content item generationtemplate.

The content item ranking module 418 analyzes various engagement factorsfor each content item in the collection associated with the givencontent item generation template. The content item ranking module 418combines the engagement factors with the manually assigned rank of eachcontent item to generate a rank for each content item. The content itemranking module 418 sorts the content items in the collection associatedwith the given content item generation template according to theassigned ranks. In some cases, the engagement factors depend on the userwho is requesting to view a given collection. In such cases, thecollection of content items presented to a first user may be rankeddifferently and ordered differently than the same collection of contentitems presented to a second user. For example, the first user in a firstgeographical region may see the collection of content items ordereddifferently and ranked differently than the second user in a secondgeographical region.

As another example, the content item ranking module 418 assigns agreater rank and weight to content items submitted by a user's friendsthan content items submitted by other users of the messaging clientapplication 104. This way, a given user sees content items generatedusing a given content item generation template that were submitted bythe given user's friends before content items submitted by other users.In some implementations, a threshold number (e.g., 10) of the mostpopular content items from popular user accounts are presented at andranked higher than all other content items in a collection of contentitems associated with a given content item generation template.Specifically, the content item ranking module 418 retrieves anidentifier of each user who submits a given content item to a collectionof content items associated with the content item generation template.The content item ranking module 418 determines popularity of the userswho submitted content items by looking at how active the user is on themessaging client application 104, the number of followers the user has,and/or the number of friends of the user. The content item rankingmodule 418 ranks content items of users who have a popularity ratingthat exceeds a given threshold, higher than other users who have a lowerpopularity rating. In addition, the content item ranking module 418presents a representation (e.g., a name or avatar) of such users whohave been determined to be popular and who submitted the content itemsto the collection for the content item generation template.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating example operations of the contentitem generation template system 124 in performing process 500, accordingto example embodiments. The process 500 may be embodied incomputer-readable instructions for execution by one or more processorssuch that the operations of the process 500 may be performed in part orin whole by the functional components of the messaging server system 108and/or third-party application 105; accordingly, the process 500 isdescribed below by way of example with reference thereto. However, inother embodiments, at least some of the operations of the process 500may be deployed on various other hardware configurations. The process500 is therefore not intended to be limited to the messaging serversystem 108 and can be implemented in whole, or in part, by any othercomponent. Some or all of the operations of process 500 can be inparallel, out of order, or entirely omitted.

At operation 501, the content item generation template system 124identifies a content item generation template that is associated withinstructions for generating a content item.

At operation 502, the content item generation template system 124displays an identifier of the content item generation template.

At operation 503, the content item generation template system 124receives input that selects the identifier of the content itemgeneration template.

At operation 504, the content item generation template system 124retrieves a plurality of content items associated with the content itemgeneration template, each of the plurality of content items having beenpreviously generated by a respective user of a plurality of users of themessaging application in accordance with the instructions associatedwith the content item generation template.

At operation 505, the content item generation template system 124displays the retrieved plurality of content items associated with thecontent item generation template.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating example operations of the contentitem generation template system 124 in performing process 600, accordingto example embodiments. The process 600 may be embodied incomputer-readable instructions for execution by one or more processorssuch that the operations of the process 600 may be performed in part orin whole by the functional components of the messaging server system 108and/or third-party application 105; accordingly, the process 600 isdescribed below by way of example with reference thereto. However, inother embodiments, at least some of the operations of the process 600may be deployed on various other hardware configurations. The process600 is therefore not intended to be limited to the messaging serversystem 108 and can be implemented in whole, or in part, by any othercomponent. Some or all of the operations of process 600 can be inparallel, out of order, or entirely omitted.

At operation 601, the content item generation template system 124 storesa plurality of content items in association with a content itemgeneration template, each of the plurality of content items having beenpreviously generated by a respective user of a plurality of users of themessaging application in accordance with instructions associated withthe content item generation template.

At operation 602, the content item generation template system 124 ranksthe plurality of content items associated with the content itemgeneration template.

At operation 603, the content item generation template system 124receives input that selects an identifier of the content item generationtemplate.

At operation 604, the content item generation template system 124displays the ranked plurality of content items to a given user of themessaging application in response to receiving the input.

FIGS. 7A-C includes illustrative inputs and outputs of the content itemgeneration template system 124, according to example embodiments. Thecontent item generation template system 124 may present a graphical userinterface 710 on a messaging client application 104. The graphical userinterface 710 may include a first region 711 dedicated to presenting alist of identifiers of content item generation templates. The graphicaluser interface 710 may include one or more additional regions dedicatedto presenting content items corresponding to different categories.

The first region 711 may present a horizontal list of identifiers ofdifferent content item generation templates. The user can swipeleft/right to navigate through the list of content item generationtemplates. A first content item generation template 716 may graphicallyrepresent a theme associated with the first content item generationtemplate 716. The first content item generation template 716 may displayan album cover or other identifier of the artist who provided orgenerated the first content item generation template 716. Each templateidentifier in the first region 711 may include a symbol 712 thatspecifically indicates that the template is a content item generationtemplate. This symbol helps the user distinguish between content itemgeneration templates and other types of augmented reality content that auser can use to generate content.

The content item generation template system 124 may present a join nowoption 714 in the first content item generation template 716 to allow auser to submit content or generate content according to the instructionsof the first content item generation template 716. In some embodiments,the join now option 714 is presented only if the content item generationtemplate system 124 determines that less than a threshold number ofcontent items have been submitted and created by users for the firstcontent item generation template 716. Namely, the content itemgeneration template system 124 may count how many content items areassociated with the first content item generation template 716 and mayretrieve a threshold number associated with the first content itemgeneration template 716. If the number of content items associated withthe first content item generation template 716 is less than theretrieved threshold number, the content item generation template system124 presents the join now option 714. If the number of content itemsassociated with the first content item generation template 716 isgreater than or equal to the retrieved threshold number, the contentitem generation template system 124 presents the number of content items731 in a graphical user interface 730 (FIG. 7B).

In some embodiments, the form and format of the number of content item731 may depend on the quantity of content items. For example, if thenumber of content items is between 999-99999, the full number ispresented with a comma (e.g., 26368 is presented as 26,368). If thenumber of content items is between 100000-999999, one decimal point isshown for the thousands place and a K is added (e.g., 782345 ispresented as 782.3K). If the number of content items is greater than1000000, two decimals are shown for the hundred thousands and thousandsplace and an M is added (e.g., 4568097 is presented as 4.57M).

The user can tap anywhere within the displayed identifier of the firstcontent item generation template 716 but not on the join now option 714to view additional details about the template. For example, if the usertaps on the region in which a title of the first content item generationtemplate 716 is displayed, the content item generation template system124 presents a graphical user interface 720. Graphical user interface720 provides a detailed description or summary of the instructionsassociated with the first content item generation template 716.Graphical user interface 720 includes a join option to allow the user tosubmit content or generate content according to the instructions of thefirst content item generation template 716.

In some cases, selection of the join option may automatically activatethe template and a camera feed of the user device. Once the template isactivated, instructions of the template are presented to the user (e.g.,lyrics of a song) and the camera feed begins being captured and stored.In some implementations, selection of the join option launches a camerafeed and a summary of the selected content item generation template. Theuser can select a launch or start option to see the instructions for thetemplate and/or begin capturing a video according to the augmentedreality content of the template.

In some embodiments, the content item generation template system 124 maydetermine that less than a threshold number of content items havepreviously been generated according to the first content item generationtemplate 716. In such cases, the content item generation template system124 may present an alert to the user or prompt or message indicating tothe user that the user can be the first person to generate contentaccording to the first content item generation template 716. The promptor message may include a join option to allow the user to submit contentor generate content according to the instructions of the first contentitem generation template 716.

In graphical user interface 730, if the user taps or selects the numberof content items 731 that is shown in the identifier of the firstcontent item generation template 716, the content item generationtemplate system 124 presents the user with graphical user interface 740.Graphical user interface 740 includes a region 741 in which a set orcollection of identifiers of content items associated with the firstcontent item generation template 716 is presented. In some embodiments,a given one of the identifiers of the content items includes arepresentation 743 of the user who submitted or generated the givencontent item associated with the identifier. The representation 743 maybe an avatar or picture of the user. In some cases, the graphical userinterface 730 may only present representations 743 for users who havebeen determined by the content item ranking module 418 to be popular.For example, the content item ranking module 418 determines popularityof the users who submitted content items by looking at how active theuser is on the messaging client application 104, the number of followersthe user has, and/or the number of friends of the user. The content itemranking module 418 ranks content items of users who have a popularityrating that exceeds a given threshold higher than other users who have alower popularity rating. As a result, the content items of the popularusers are presented at the top of the collection of content items ingraphical user interface 730. In addition, the representation 743 (e.g.,a name or avatar) of such users who have been determined to be popularand who submitted the content items to the collection for the contentitem generation template are included for the identifiers of the contentitems submitted by the popular users but the representation 743 is notincluded for content items submitted by non-popular users.

The user can select any of the identifiers of the content items to viewor playback the content item associated with the selected identifierthat was generated using the first content item generation template 716.In some embodiments, after selecting a first identifier of the contentitem associated with the first content item generation template 716, thecontent item generation template system 124 presents the videoassociated with the selected first identifier. When playback of thevideo completes, the content item generation template system 124automatically retrieves and plays back the next video associated withthe next identifier in the set or collection of identifiers. In somecases, when playback of the video completes, the content item generationtemplate system 124 returns the user to the graphical user interface 730in which the collection or set of identifiers of the content itemsassociated with the first content item generation template 716 ispresented.

In some embodiments, the set or collection of identifiers of contentitems associated with the first content item generation template 716 isranked according to one or more factors. For example, the set orcollection of identifiers of content items associated with the firstcontent item generation template 716 is ranked based on an orderdetermined by the content item ranking module 418.

The graphical user interface 740 includes a camera option 742. Thecamera option 742 is overlaid on top of a portion of the set orcollection of identifiers of content items associated with the firstcontent item generation template 716. In response to receiving a userselection of the camera option 742, the content item generation templatesystem 124 retrieves the instructions corresponding to the first contentitem generation template 716 and activates the template. Specifically,in response to receiving the user selection of the camera option 742,the content item generation template system 124 presents the user with acamera feed screen 750 and/or presents instructions corresponding to thefirst content item generation template 716 for which the content itemsare presented in screen 760. The camera option 742 allows the user tojoin or generate content, using the first content item generationtemplate 716, for submission to the collection and/or to share with oneor more designated recipients.

In some implementations, the first content item generation template 716includes a music track. In such cases, in response to receiving a userselection of the camera option 742, the content item generation templatesystem 124 presents a graphical user interface screen 750. Screen 750presents an image of the artist who created the template and the song.The content item generation template system 124 does not launch a camerafeed or activate the camera in this case. The content item generationtemplate system 124 begins playing back the music track associated withthe first content item generation template 716. The music track includesa vocal portion and an instrumental portion. The content item generationtemplate system 124 presents a slicer tool 752 to allow the user toselect a specific portion of the music track. The user can then replacethe vocal portion but not the instrumental portion in the selectedportion of the music track with an audio recording of the user's voice.Once the user completes recording over the music track, an option ispresented to the user allowing the user to share the content item withone or more designated recipients and/or to add the content item to thecollection of content items associated with the first content itemgeneration template 716. In some cases, an icon 754 providingattribution to the artist is generated in response to the user recordingover a portion of the music track. This icon 754 may be moved around thescreen and placed on other content items (e.g., images or videos)captured by the user but may not be removed. In some implementations,the user can add other graphical elements or content items to thecontent item that the user created with the music track.

In some embodiments, after a user creates a content item using a contentitem generation template, the content item generation template system124 presents a graphical user interface screen 760. The graphical userinterface screen 760 includes one or more options for allowing the userto share the content item with other users of the messaging clientapplication 104. For example, the graphical user interface screen 760includes a first option 761 that represents the first content itemgeneration template 716. The first option 761 may describe the firstcontent item generation template 716 and include a title and/orgraphical image of the template. The user can check or uncheck (selector deselect) the first option 761 to add or exclude submission of thecontent item to the collection of content items associated with thefirst content item generation template 716. In some embodiments, if acontent item is added to the first content item generation template 716,any user of the messaging client application 104 is allowed to accessthe content item. The user can also select one or more friends in thescreen 760 to whom to send the content item. After the user selects ordeselects the first option 761 and/or specifies one or more friends inscreen 760, the user can select the send option 762. In response toreceiving a user selection of the send option 762, the content itemgeneration template system 124 automatically and simultaneously sendsthe content item to the one or more friends who the user selected and/oradds the content item to the collection of content items associated withthe first content item generation template 716 (if the first option 761was selected).

In some embodiments, the content item generation template system 124presents a graphical user interface screen 770 in response to receivinga user request to access a profile of the user. The screen 770 includesa list of content items the user has shared with other users. The screen770 includes a dedicated portion 771 that presents a collection ofcontent items associated with a particular content item generationtemplate. The dedicated portion 771 only presents the collection ofcontent items associated with a content item generation template towhich the user has previously added a content item. For example, contentitem generation template system 124 may include first and second contentitem generation templates. The content item generation template system124 may determine that the user has previously selected an identifier ofthe first content item generation template 716, generated content itemusing the first content item generation template 716, and added thecontent item to the first content item generation template 716 (e.g., byselecting first option 761). In response, the content item generationtemplate system 124 may add the first content item generation template716 information to the dedicated portion 771. In response to determiningthat the user did not select or add content items to the second contentitem generation template, the content item generation template system124 may exclude the second content item generation template informationfrom the dedicated portion 771.

In some embodiments, the user may add a particular content itemgeneration template to a favorites list without adding a content item toa collection associated with the particular content item generationtemplate. In such cases, the particular content item generation templatethat has been added to a favorites list is also included in thededicated portion 771. In some embodiments, each content item generationtemplate that is listed in dedicated portion 771 includes a list ofidentifiers of content items that are in a collection associated withthe corresponding content item generation template. The list ofidentifiers is selectable such that any given identifier can be selectedto view or access the corresponding content item in the collection. Eachidentifier in the list may include an indication of the number of viewsof the corresponding content item. The dedicated portion 771 may includea number of views in aggregate of the content item generation template.The dedicated portion 771 may include an add option for each contentitem generation template that is included in the dedicated portion 771.In response to receiving a user selection of the add option, the contentitem generation template system 124 activates the corresponding contentitem generation template to allow the user to generate a content itemusing the template.

In some embodiments, the dedicated portion 771 may display a firstcollection of content items associated with the first content itemgeneration template 716 above a second collection of content itemsassociated with a second content item generation template. Eachcollection may be identified by the title of the corresponding template.The user can navigate through the templates by swiping up/down. The usercan navigate through the content item identifiers in the collection ofcontent items for a given template by swiping left/right.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an example software architecture806, which may be used in conjunction with various hardwarearchitectures herein described. FIG. 8 is a non-limiting example of asoftware architecture and it will be appreciated that many otherarchitectures may be implemented to facilitate the functionalitydescribed herein. The software architecture 806 may execute on hardwaresuch as machine 900 of FIG. 9 that includes, among other things,processors 904, memory 914, and input/output (I/O) components 918. Arepresentative hardware layer 852 is illustrated and can represent, forexample, the machine 900 of FIG. 9. The representative hardware layer852 includes a processing unit 854 having associated executableinstructions 804. Executable instructions 804 represent the executableinstructions of the software architecture 806, including implementationof the methods, components, and so forth described herein. The hardwarelayer 852 also includes memory and/or storage modules memory/storage856, which also have executable instructions 804. The hardware layer 852may also comprise other hardware 858.

In the example architecture of FIG. 8, the software architecture 806 maybe conceptualized as a stack of layers where each layer providesparticular functionality. For example, the software architecture 806 mayinclude layers such as an operating system 802, libraries 820,frameworks/middleware 818, applications 816, and a presentation layer814. Operationally, the applications 816 and/or other components withinthe layers may invoke API calls 808 through the software stack andreceive messages 812 in response to the API calls 808. The layersillustrated are representative in nature and not all softwarearchitectures have all layers. For example, some mobile or specialpurpose operating systems may not provide a frameworks/middleware 818,while others may provide such a layer. Other software architectures mayinclude additional or different layers.

The operating system 802 may manage hardware resources and providecommon services. The operating system 802 may include, for example, akernel 822, services 824, and drivers 826. The kernel 822 may act as anabstraction layer between the hardware and the other software layers.For example, the kernel 822 may be responsible for memory management,processor management (e.g., scheduling), component management,networking, security settings, and so on. The services 824 may provideother common services for the other software layers. The drivers 826 areresponsible for controlling or interfacing with the underlying hardware.For instance, the drivers 826 include display drivers, camera drivers,Bluetooth® drivers, flash memory drivers, serial communication drivers(e.g., Universal Serial Bus (USB) drivers), Wi-Fi® drivers, audiodrivers, power management drivers, and so forth depending on thehardware configuration.

The libraries 820 provide a common infrastructure that is used by theapplications 816 and/or other components and/or layers. The libraries820 provide functionality that allows other software components toperform tasks in an easier fashion than to interface directly with theunderlying operating system 802 functionality (e.g., kernel 822,services 824 and/or drivers 826). The libraries 820 may include systemlibraries 844 (e.g., C standard library) that may provide functions suchas memory allocation functions, string manipulation functions,mathematical functions, and the like. In addition, the libraries 820 mayinclude API libraries 846 such as media libraries (e.g., libraries tosupport presentation and manipulation of various media format such asMPEG4, H.264, MP3, AAC, AMR, JPG, PNG), graphics libraries (e.g., anOpenGL framework that may be used to render two-dimensional andthree-dimensional in a graphic content on a display), database libraries(e.g., SQLite that may provide various relational database functions),web libraries (e.g., WebKit that may provide web browsingfunctionality), and the like. The libraries 820 may also include a widevariety of other libraries 848 to provide many other APIs to theapplications 816 and other software components/modules.

The frameworks/middleware 818 (also sometimes referred to as middleware)provide a higher-level common infrastructure that may be used by theapplications 816 and/or other software components/modules. For example,the frameworks/middleware 818 may provide various graphical userinterface functions, high-level resource management, high-level locationservices, and so forth. The frameworks/middleware 818 may provide abroad spectrum of other APIs that may be utilized by the applications816 and/or other software components/modules, some of which may bespecific to a particular operating system 802 or platform.

The applications 816 include built-in applications 838 and/orthird-party applications 840. Examples of representative built-inapplications 838 may include, but are not limited to, a contactsapplication, a browser application, a book reader application, alocation application, a media application, a messaging application,and/or a game application. Third-party applications 840 may include anapplication developed using the ANDROID™ or IOS™ software developmentkit (SDK) by an entity other than the vendor of the particular platform,and may be mobile software running on a mobile operating system such asIOS™, ANDROID™, WINDOWS® Phone, or other mobile operating systems. Thethird-party applications 840 may invoke the API calls 808 provided bythe mobile operating system (such as operating system 802) to facilitatefunctionality described herein.

The applications 816 may use built-in operating system functions (e.g.,kernel 822, services 824, and/or drivers 826), libraries 820, andframeworks/middleware 818 to create UIs to interact with users of thesystem. Alternatively, or additionally, in some systems, interactionswith a user may occur through a presentation layer, such as presentationlayer 814. In these systems, the application/component “logic” can beseparated from the aspects of the application/component that interactwith a user.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating components of a machine 900,according to some example embodiments, able to read instructions from amachine-readable medium (e.g., a machine-readable storage medium) andperform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.Specifically, FIG. 9 shows a diagrammatic representation of the machine900 in the example form of a computer system, within which instructions910 (e.g., software, a program, an application, an applet, an app, orother executable code) for causing the machine 900 to perform any one ormore of the methodologies discussed herein may be executed. As such, theinstructions 910 may be used to implement modules or componentsdescribed herein. The instructions 910 transform the general,non-programmed machine 900 into a particular machine 900 programmed tocarry out the described and illustrated functions in the mannerdescribed. In alternative embodiments, the machine 900 operates as astandalone device or may be coupled (e.g., networked) to other machines.In a networked deployment, the machine 900 may operate in the capacityof a server machine or a client machine in a server-client networkenvironment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed)network environment. The machine 900 may comprise, but not be limitedto, a server computer, a client computer, a personal computer (PC), atablet computer, a laptop computer, a netbook, a set-top box (STB), apersonal digital assistant (PDA), an entertainment media system, acellular telephone, a smart phone, a mobile device, a wearable device(e.g., a smart watch), a smart home device (e.g., a smart appliance),other smart devices, a web appliance, a network router, a networkswitch, a network bridge, or any machine capable of executing theinstructions 910, sequentially or otherwise, that specify actions to betaken by machine 900. Further, while only a single machine 900 isillustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include acollection of machines that individually or jointly execute theinstructions 910 to perform any one or more of the methodologiesdiscussed herein.

The machine 900 may include processors 904, memory/storage 906, and 110components 918, which may be configured to communicate with each othersuch as via a bus 902. In an example embodiment, the processors 904(e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a reduced instruction setcomputing (RISC) processor, a complex instruction set computing (CISC)processor, a graphics processing unit (GPU), a digital signal processor(DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), aradio-frequency integrated circuit (RFIC), another processor, or anysuitable combination thereof) may include, for example, a processor 908and a processor 912 that may execute the instructions 910. The term“processor” is intended to include multi-core processors 904 that maycomprise two or more independent processors (sometimes referred to as“cores”) that may execute instructions 910 contemporaneously. AlthoughFIG. 9 shows multiple processors 904, the machine 900 may include asingle processor 908 with a single core, a single processor 908 withmultiple cores e.g., a multi-core processor), multiple processors 908,912 with a single core, multiple processors 908, 912 with multiplecores, or any combination thereof.

The memory/storage 906 may include a memory 914, such as a main memory,or other memory storage, and a storage unit 916, both accessible to theprocessors 904 such as via the bus 902. The storage unit 916 and memory914 store the instructions 910 embodying any one or more of themethodologies or functions described herein. The instructions 910 mayalso reside, completely or partially, within the memory 914, within thestorage unit 916, within at least one of the processors 904 (e.g.,within the processor's cache memory), or any suitable combinationthereof, during execution thereof by the machine 900. Accordingly, thememory 914, the storage unit 916, and the memory of processors 904 areexamples of machine-readable media.

The I/O components 918 may include a wide variety of components toreceive input, provide output, produce output, transmit information,exchange information, capture measurements, and so on. The specific I/Ocomponents 918 that are included in a particular machine 900 will dependon the type of machine. For example, portable machines such as mobilephones will likely include a touch input device or other such inputmechanisms, while a headless server machine will likely not include sucha touch input device. It will be appreciated that the I/O components 918may include many other components that are not shown in FIG. 9. The I/Ocomponents 918 are grouped according to functionality merely forsimplifying the following discussion and the grouping is in no waylimiting. In various example embodiments, the I/O components 918 mayinclude output components 926 and input components 928. The outputcomponents 926 may include visual components (e.g., a display such as aplasma display panel (PDP), a light emitting diode (LED) display, aliquid crystal display (LCD), a projector, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)),acoustic components (e.g., speakers), haptic components (e.g., avibratory motor, resistance mechanisms), other signal generators, and soforth. The input components 928 may include alphanumeric inputcomponents (e.g., a keyboard, a touch screen configured to receivealphanumeric input, a photo-optical keyboard, or other alphanumericinput components), point-based input components (e.g., a mouse, atouchpad, a trackball, a joystick, a motion sensor, or other pointinginstrument), tactile input components (e.g., a physical button, a touchscreen that provides location and/or force of touches or touch gestures,or other tactile input components), audio input components (e.g., amicrophone), and the like.

In further example embodiments, the I/O components 918 may includebiometric components 939, motion components 934, environmentalcomponents 936, or position components 938 among a wide array of othercomponents. For example, the biometric components 939 may includecomponents to detect expressions (e.g., hand expressions, facialexpressions, vocal expressions, body gestures, or eye tracking), measurebiosignals (e.g., blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature,perspiration, or brain waves), identify a person (e.g., voiceidentification, retinal identification, facial identification,fingerprint identification, or electroencephalogram basedidentification), and the like. The motion components 934 may includeacceleration sensor components (e.g., accelerometer), gravitation sensorcomponents, rotation sensor components (e.g., gyroscope), and so forth.The environmental components 936 may include, for example, illuminationsensor components (e.g., photometer), temperature sensor components(e.g., one or more thermometer that detect ambient temperature),humidity sensor components, pressure sensor components (e.g.,barometer), acoustic sensor components (e.g., one or more microphonesthat detect background noise), proximity sensor components (e.g.,infrared sensors that detect nearby objects), gas sensors (e.g., gasdetection sensors to detection concentrations of hazardous gases forsafety or to measure pollutants in the atmosphere), or other componentsthat may provide indications, measurements, or signals corresponding toa surrounding physical environment. The position components 938 mayinclude location sensor components (e.g., a GPS receiver component),altitude sensor components (e.g., altimeters or barometers that detectair pressure from which altitude may be derived), orientation sensorcomponents (e.g., magnetometers), and the like.

Communication may be implemented using a wide variety of technologies.The I/O components 918 may include communication components 940 operableto couple the machine 900 to a network 937 or devices 929 via coupling924 and coupling 922, respectively. For example, the communicationcomponents 940 may include a network interface component or othersuitable device to interface with the network 937. In further examples,communication components 940 may include wired communication components,wireless communication components, cellular communication components,near field communication (NFC) components, Bluetooth® components (e.g.,Bluetooth® Low Energy), Wi-Fi® components, and other communicationcomponents to provide communication via other modalities. The devices929 may be another machine 900 or any of a wide variety of peripheraldevices (e.g., a peripheral device coupled via a USB).

Moreover, the communication components 940 may detect identifiers orinclude components operable to detect identifiers. For example, thecommunication components 940 may include radio frequency identification(RFID) tag reader components, NFC smart tag detection components,optical reader components (e.g., an optical sensor to detectone-dimensional bar codes such as Universal Product Code (UPC) bar code,multi-dimensional bar codes such as Quick Response (QR) code, Azteccode, Data Matrix, Dataglyph, MaxiCode, PDF417, Ultra Code, UCC RSS-2Dbar code, and other optical codes), or acoustic detection components(e.g., microphones to identify tagged audio signals). In addition, avariety of information may be derived via the communication components940, such as location via Internet Protocol (IP) geo-location, locationvia Wi-Fi® signal triangulation, location via detecting a NFC beaconsignal that may indicate a particular location, and so forth.

Glossary:

“CARRIER SIGNAL,” in this context, refers to any intangible medium thatis capable of storing, encoding, or carrying transitory ornon-transitory instructions 910 for execution by the machine 900, andincludes digital or analog communications signals or other intangiblemedium to facilitate communication of such instructions 910.Instructions 910 may be transmitted or received over the network 106using a transitory or non-transitory transmission medium via a networkinterface device and using any one of a number of well-known transferprotocols.

“CLIENT DEVICE,” in this context, refers to any machine 900 thatinterfaces to a communications network 106 to obtain resources from oneor more server systems or other client devices 102. A client device 102may be, but is not limited to, a mobile phone, desktop computer, laptop,PDAs, smart phones, tablets, ultra books, netbooks, laptops,multi-processor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumerelectronics, game consoles, set-top boxes, or any other communicationdevice that a user may use to access a network 106.

“COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK,” in this context, refers to one or moreportions of a network 106 that may be an ad hoc network, an intranet, anextranet, a virtual private network (VPN), a local area network (LAN), awireless LAN (WLAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless WAN (WWAN), ametropolitan area network (MAN), the Internet, a portion of theInternet, a portion of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), aplain old telephone service (POTS) network, a cellular telephonenetwork, a wireless network, a Wi-Fi® network, another type of network,or a combination of two or more such networks. For example, a network106 or a portion of a network may include a wireless or cellular networkand the coupling may be a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)connection, a Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) connection,or other type of cellular or wireless coupling. In this example, thecoupling may implement any of a variety of types of data transfertechnology, such as Single Carrier Radio Transmission Technology(1×RTT), Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO) technology, General PacketRadio Service (GPRS) technology, Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution(EDGE) technology, third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) including3G, fourth generation wireless (4G) networks, Universal MobileTelecommunications System (UMTS), High Speed Packet Access (HSPA),Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), Long TermEvolution (LTE) standard, others defined by various standard settingorganizations, other long range protocols, or other data transfertechnology.

“EPHEMERAL MESSAGE,” in this context, refers to a message 300 that isaccessible for a time-limited duration. An ephemeral message may be atext, an image, a video, and the like. The access time for the ephemeralmessage may be set by the message sender. Alternatively, the access timemay be a default setting or a setting specified by the recipient.Regardless of the setting technique, the message 300 is transitory.

“MACHINE-READABLE MEDIUM,” in this context, refers to a component,device, or other tangible media able to store instructions 910 and datatemporarily or permanently and may include, but is not limited to,random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), buffer memory, flashmemory, optical media, magnetic media, cache memory, other types ofstorage (e.g., erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM)) and/orany suitable combination thereof. The term “machine-readable medium”should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., acentralized or distributed database, or associated caches and servers)able to store instructions 910. The term “machine-readable medium” shallalso be taken to include any medium, or combination of multiple media,that is capable of storing instructions 910 (e.g., code) for executionby a machine 900, such that the instructions 910, when executed by oneor more processors 904 of the machine 900, cause the machine 900 toperform any one or more of the methodologies described herein.Accordingly, a “machine-readable medium” refers to a single storageapparatus or device, as well as “cloud-based” storage systems or storagenetworks that include multiple storage apparatus or devices. The term“machine-readable medium” excludes signals per se.

“COMPONENT,” in this context, refers to a device, physical entity, orlogic having boundaries defined by function or subroutine calls, branchpoints, APIs, or other technologies that provide for the partitioning ormodularization of particular processing or control functions. Componentsmay be combined via their interfaces with other components to carry outa machine process. A component may be a packaged functional hardwareunit designed for use with other components and a part of a program thatusually performs a particular function of related functions. Componentsmay constitute either software components (e.g., code embodied on amachine-readable medium) or hardware components. A “hardware component”is a tangible unit capable of performing certain operations and may beconfigured or arranged in a certain physical manner. In various exampleembodiments, one or more computer systems (e.g., a standalone computersystem, a client computer system, or a server computer system) or one ormore hardware components of a computer system (e.g., a processor or agroup of processors) may be configured by software (e.g., an applicationor application portion) as a hardware component that operates to performcertain operations as described herein.

A hardware component may also be implemented mechanically,electronically, or any suitable combination thereof. For example, ahardware component may include dedicated circuitry or logic that ispermanently configured to perform certain operations. A hardwarecomponent may be a special-purpose processor, such as afield-programmable gate array (FPGA) or an ASIC. A hardware componentmay also include programmable logic or circuitry that is temporarilyconfigured by software to perform certain operations. For example, ahardware component may include software executed by a general-purposeprocessor 908 or other programmable processor. Once configured by suchsoftware, hardware components become specific machines (or specificcomponents of a machine 900) uniquely tailored to perform the configuredfunctions and are no longer general-purpose processors 908. It will beappreciated that the decision to implement a hardware componentmechanically, in dedicated and permanently configured circuitry, or intemporarily configured circuitry (e.g., configured by software) may bedriven by cost and time considerations. Accordingly, the phrase“hardware component”(or “hardware-implemented component”) should beunderstood to encompass a tangible entity, be that an entity that isphysically constructed, permanently configured (e.g., hardwired), ortemporarily configured (e.g., programmed) to operate in a certain manneror to perform certain operations described herein. Consideringembodiments in which hardware components are temporarily configured(e.g., programmed), each of the hardware components need not beconfigured or instantiated at any one instance in time. For example,where a hardware component comprises a general-purpose processor 908configured by software to become a special-purpose processor, thegeneral-purpose processor 908 may be configured as respectivelydifferent special-purpose processors (e.g., comprising differenthardware components) at different times. Software accordingly configuresa particular processor 908 or processors 904, for example, to constitutea particular hardware component at one instance of time and toconstitute a different hardware component at a different instance oftime.

Hardware components can provide information to, and receive informationfrom, other hardware components. Accordingly, the described hardwarecomponents may be regarded as being communicatively coupled. Wheremultiple hardware components exist contemporaneously, communications maybe achieved through signal transmission (e.g., over appropriate circuitsand buses) between or among two or more of the hardware components. Inembodiments in which multiple hardware components are configured orinstantiated at different times, communications between such hardwarecomponents may be achieved, for example, through the storage andretrieval of information in memory structures to which the multiplehardware components have access. For example, one hardware component mayperform an operation and store the output of that operation in a memorydevice to which it is communicatively coupled. A further hardwarecomponent may then, at a later time, access the memory device toretrieve and process the stored output.

Hardware components may also initiate communications with input oroutput devices, and can operate on a resource (e.g., a collection ofinformation). The various operations of example methods described hereinmay be performed, at least partially, by one or more processors 904 thatare temporarily configured (e.g., by software) or permanently configuredto perform the relevant operations. Whether temporarily or permanentlyconfigured, such processors 904 may constitute processor-implementedcomponents that operate to perform one or more operations or functionsdescribed herein. As used herein, “processor-implemented component”refers to a hardware component implemented using one or more processors904. Similarly, the methods described herein may be at least partiallyprocessor-implemented, with a particular processor 908 or processors 904being an example of hardware. For example, at least some of theoperations of a method may be performed by one or more processors 904 orprocessor-implemented components. Moreover, the one or more processors904 may also operate to support performance of the relevant operationsin a “cloud computing” environment or as a “software as a service”(SaaS). For example, at least some of the operations may be performed bya group of computers (as examples of machines 900 including processors904), with these operations being accessible via a network 106 (e.g.,the Internet) and via one or more appropriate interfaces (e.g., an API).The performance of certain of the operations may be distributed amongthe processors, not only residing within a single machine 900, butdeployed across a number of machines. In some example embodiments, theprocessors 904 or processor-implemented components may be located in asingle geographic location (e.g., within a home environment, an officeenvironment, or a server farm). In other example embodiments, theprocessors 904 or processor-implemented components may be distributedacross a number of geographic locations.

“PROCESSOR,” in this context, refers to any circuit or virtual circuit(a physical circuit emulated by logic executing on an actual processor908) that manipulates data values according to control signals (e.g.,“commands,” “op codes,” “machine code,” etc.) and which producescorresponding output signals that are applied to operate a machine 900.A processor 908 may, for example, be a CPU, a RISC processor, a CISCprocessor, a GPU, a DSP, an ASIC, a RFIC or any combination thereof. Aprocessor 908 may further be a multi-core processor having two or moreindependent processors 904 (sometimes referred to as “cores”) that mayexecute instructions 910 contemporaneously.

“TIMESTAMP,” in this context, refers to a sequence of characters orencoded information identifying when a certain event occurred, forexample giving date and time of day, sometimes accurate to a smallfraction of a second.

Changes and modifications may be made to the disclosed embodimentswithout departing from the scope of the present disclosure. These andother changes or modifications are intended to be included within thescope of the present disclosure, as expressed in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: storing, by one or moreprocessors, a plurality of content items in association with a contentitem generation template, each of the plurality of content items havingbeen previously generated by a respective user of a plurality of usersof a messaging application in accordance with instructions associatedwith the content item generation template; ranking the plurality ofcontent items associated with the content item generation template;receiving input that selects an identifier of the content itemgeneration template; and displaying the ranked plurality of contentitems to a given user of the messaging application in response toreceiving the input.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:establishing a first authentication session based on firstauthentication credentials, the first authentication credentialsindicating administrative privileges; and displaying a configurationuser interface within the first authenticated session, the configurationuser interface configured to receive input parameters defining theinstructions associated with the content item generation template. 3.The method of claim 2, wherein the input parameters include one or moreof a period of time during which content will be collected from users,one or more conditions for ending collection of content, a name of theuser generated content collection, an image to be displayed when a userviews the user generated content collection, a music or video asset topresent as part of generating the content item, and a trigger to modifyone or more graphics presented during generation of the content itemaccording to designated time points.
 4. The method of claim 1, whereinthe plurality of content items are ranked based on a relationshipbetween a user who submitted the content items and a user viewing thecontent items.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality ofcontent items are ranked based on a number of user generated contentitems associated with the content item generation template.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a given content itemthat was generated using the content item generation template; receivinginput from a moderator that confirms that the given content item matchesthe instructions associated with the content item generation template;and assigning a manual rank by a moderator to the given content item. 7.The method of claim 6, further comprising: retrieving engagement signalsassociated with the given content item; and generating a rank for thegiven content item based on a combination of the engagement signals andthe manual rank.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the engagementsignals include at least one of a number of times the given content itemhas been viewed by users of the messaging application, length of timethe users spend viewing the given content item, a geographical locationof the users who view the given content item, or how recently the givencontent item was received.
 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:receiving a user request to generate a content item using the contentitem generation template; displaying the instructions associated withthe content item generation template in response to receiving the userrequest; displaying a camera feed of a user device together withaugmented reality content associated with the content item generationtemplate; and generating a user generated content item using thedisplayed camera feed and augmented reality content.
 10. The method ofclaim 9, wherein the augmented reality content includes at least one ofa graphical element, music, video, or text, wherein a music trackassociated with the content item generation template plays whilegenerating the user generated content item; and wherein a slice tool ispresented that allows the user to specify a portion of the music trackover which audio of the user is captured to replace the portion of themusic track.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the content itemgeneration template is associated with a time interval having a startand end time, further comprising: receiving a user request to startgenerating the user generated content item; activating the content itemgeneration template to cause one or more items of the augmented realitycontent to be presented according to a timed sequence within the timeinterval; and while the content item generation template is activated,capturing video from the camera feed together with the presented one ormore items, wherein capturing of the video ends automatically when theend time of the time interval is reached.
 12. The method of claim 9,wherein the instructions are displayed while the user generated contentitem is being created and are excluded from the user generated contentitem after the user generated content item is created, furthercomprising: providing a first option for the user to share the generateduser generated content item with one or more friends; and providing asecond option for the user to enable access to the generated usergenerated content item by any user of the messaging application whoselects an identifier of the content item generation template.
 13. Themethod of claim 1, wherein an identifier of the content item generationtemplate includes a symbol representing content item generationtemplates, wherein the identifier includes a new indicator and a joinnow option when no content items have previously been generated usingthe content item generation template, and wherein the identifierincludes a view option that represents how many content items areassociated with the content item generation template when a thresholdnumber of content items have previously been generated using the contentitem generation template, the view option causing the previouslygenerated content items to be presented when selected by a user.
 14. Themethod of claim 1, wherein an identifier of the content item generationtemplate represents a producer or artist associated with the contentitem generation template.
 15. The method of claim 1, wherein theinstructions instruct a user to perform a specific action whilegenerating a video clip.
 16. The method of claim 1, wherein the contentitem generation template is associated with a start date and an enddate, wherein generating content using the content item generationtemplate is enabled after the start date and before the end date. 17.The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying, by the messagingapplication, a plurality of identifiers of content item generationtemplates horizontally, wherein the plurality of identifiers arenavigable by swiping left and right.
 18. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: displaying an identifier of the user who generated eachrespective one of the retrieved plurality of content items associatedwith the content item generation template; displaying a camera icontogether with the plurality of content items; and launching the contentitem generation template to allow a user to generate content using thecontent item generation template in response to receiving a userselection of the camera icon.
 19. A system comprising: a processorconfigured to perform operations comprising: storing a plurality ofcontent items in association with a content item generation template,each of the plurality of content items having been previously generatedby a respective user of a plurality of users of a messaging applicationin accordance with instructions associated with the content itemgeneration template; ranking the plurality of content items associatedwith the content item generation template; receiving input that selectsan identifier of the content item generation template; and displayingthe ranked plurality of content items to a given user of the messagingapplication in response to receiving the input.
 20. A non-transitorymachine-readable storage medium that includes instructions that, whenexecuted by one or more processors of a machine, cause the machine toperform operations comprising: storing a plurality of content items inassociation with a content item generation template, each of theplurality of content items having been previously generated by arespective user of a plurality of users of a messaging application inaccordance with instructions associated with the content item generationtemplate; ranking the plurality of content items associated with thecontent generation template; receiving input that selects an identifierof the content item generation template; and displaying the rankedplurality of content items to a given user of the messaging applicationin response to receiving the input.